NI LEAGUE CUP: Institute through to face Welders in second round

Institute's Michael McCrudden (left) is congratulated by team-mate Ciaron Harkin after scoring his team's first goal in their 3-1 win over Moyola Park.

Kevin McLaughlin at Mill Meadow

Published:18:25Saturday 06 August 2016

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MOYOLA PARK 1-3 INSTITUTE

Institute saw off Moyola Park with a comfortable win at a sun drenched Mill Meadow.

In truth they should have won by a bigger margin with substitute Jamie Dunne in particular missing three great chances late-on.

Michael McCrudden opened the scoring in sublime fashion on 18 minutes and seven minutes later Sean McCarron doubled the advantage, with an equally impressive goal.

An Aaron Harkin free kick from the edge of the box sealed the win on 53 minutes before Daniel McIlhatton grabbed a consolation goal to complete the scoring.

Stute started on the front foot, with the impressive Aaron Harkin, Dean Curry and Stephen Curry tormenting the Moyola defence.

In fact Moyola’s left-back Craig McAllister really was struggling to cope with Stephen Curry especially in the opening 45 minutes.

Curry was in the thick of the action on three minutes as he latched onto Ciaron Harkin’s threw ball, but his goalbound effort from just inisde the box, was blocked by Mark Waddell.

Curry had another chance on 14 minutes after Ciaron Harkin’s right wing cut-back found the Newbuildings man, but he completed missed his kick and the chance was gone.

The deadlock was finally broken three minutes later in super fashion as Ciaron Harkin feed Curry down the right, his centre to the back post picked out McCrudden and his controlled volley, flew past Moyola keeper Marlin Farniok.

To their credit the home side were inches away from levelling things moments later but Waddell’s 20 yard drive was superbly tipped around the post by Stute keeper Marty Gallagher.

Institute doubled their lead on 25 minutes when Ciaron Harkin’s pass into McCarron, saw the big striker control the ball with a great piece of skill, before getting himself some space in the box and calmly turned the ball home.

Early in the second half that man Harkin was at it again with another magnificent inch perfect pass this time into Niall Grace, but the midfielder saw his effort from just inside the box, saved by Farniok.

The tie was effectively ended on 52 minutes as Aaron Harkin’s tremendous curling free-kick from the edge of the box, flew into the net, giving Farniok no chance.

Boss Kevin Deery decided to make three changes in the 60th minute mark with Caolan Cooley, Jordan Armstrong and Jamie Dunne all replacing Stephen Curry, McCrudden and McCarron; however Dunne wasn’t ready to come on and that final change meant Stute played for nine minutes with ten men.

In that space of time Moyola pulled one back on 62 minutes thanks to Daniel McIlhatton’s close range strike; fortunately for Dunne that goal was a mere consolation.

To make matters worse for the talented left-winger he missed three chances in as many minutes starting on 75 minutes.

A clever pass by Aaron Harkin found Dunne but his attempted lob over Farniok from the edge of the box, sailed just wide.

Soon after Armstrong feed a completely unmarked Dunne inside the box, but his tame strike was straight at the keeper and then moments later he some how headed over from close range, after Grace’s inch perfect centre had found the winger.

Meanwhile Limavady United and Queens went into extra-time as the teams finished level on one goal apiece at 90 minutes. An unfortunate Gibson own goal handed United the lead in the 100th minute and the game finished 2-1 to Limavady.

While Lurgan Celtic found themselves a goal down in the seventh minute at home to Bangor but levelled through Conor McAllen on 49 minutes and with no further scoring the game went to extra time. With no further goals the game went to penalties where Celtic won 5-4 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Banbridge Town’s Conor Downey fired his team into Round 2 in the 90th minute with the only goal of the game. The dramatic winner, from all of twenty-five yards from a direct free kick, came at the end of a tight match against PSNI at Newforge.